I think you will be surprised at just how loud the SC or any other avr with that quality can drive the M80s. Most of these avr's are capable of producing clean sound to around 100db, to get just 10 more db you need about 1000w, with a listening distance of 3m away(my house)

I'm definitely known to listen to loud music at times at around 100db or more(though I must admit, this is merely a guess. I don't own a SPL meter). Loud enough to send animals running and make you feel like you are in a rock concert. I'm really looking forward to testing the m80s on their ability to play loud.

Nick, the first point is that the Crown calculator certainly isn't a "great calculator" when a home listening room is the venue. It's based on an anechoic measurement without the room reinforcement that changes the measurement significantly. The result from using the calculator unadjusted for the room is as much as 4 times the true number. Crown fails to even mention this key factor on the calculator page and only brings it to light here near the end under "Other Considerations" where it suggests adding 6dB for the room contribution, which is equivalent to reducing the power figure to 1/4th of the previous value shown on the calculator.

Also, as was pointed out previously, but you apparently can't accept, the only way you can "feed" a speaker more power is to make it louder; simply connecting an amplifier with a higher maximum output rating does nothing. If a speaker such as the M80 is using about 1 watt for a comfortably loud average level, 1 watt is all that it's being fed, regardless of whether the amplifier can output a max of 10 watts, 100 watts or 1000 watts.

Simply keeping the volume control on a receiver or separate pre-pro at the same number doesn't keep the volume the same when a separate amplifier is connected. The separate amplifier can have a different gain than the amplifier in the receiver and can be slightly louder at the same volume setting. This is why blind listening tests have to make careful adjustments so that the volume is matched within 0.1dB for the units under test. Louder gives an impression of being better, rather than just louder.

imply connecting an amplifier with a higher maximum output rating does nothing. If a speaker such as the M80 is using about 1 watt for a comfortably loud average level, 1 watt is all that it's being fed, regardless of whether the amplifier can output a max of 10 watts, 100 watts or 1000 wat

Quote:

This is why blind listening tests have to make careful adjustments so that the volume is matched within 0.1dB for the units under test. Louder gives an impression of being better, rather than just louder.

That was well said. See, I'm really in the dark about some things. I've learned more in the past month online through this site and many others. What you said makes perfect sense.

I've always thought it was a good thing to be able to feed a speaker what it is rated for. In this case, I thought it would be ideal to be feeding each m80 as close to 400 watts each as possible.

Just to feed my curiousity and thirst for knowledge a little more...

Why is it that SO many people who own m80's run seperate power amps?

Is it just because people don't know any better?(kind of like the people who think that biwiring/biamping makes a difference?...well biamping without taking the crossovers out that is)

I don't know how many people using M80s buy a separate("there's a rat in separate")amplifier, but if the amplifier in their receiver has the power capacity for their needs(as is usually the case), they've become the victims of one of the many audio mythologies that continue to float around and spent money on something that won't be used.